Today, however, I just did the deed, added a few more photos to the files so I could share them with you this morning. The first is the aforementioned pre-dawn (or breaking dawn) photo of this very Christmas morn here in the country. I could see it was evolving into a real beauty and deserved capturing for posterity. (Apologies for the slight fuzziness...tough to get those long, dim exposures to be clear without a tripod to hold the camera rock-steady.) The others, well, they're just for fun to mark the occasion. My little Christmas gifts to you all...enjoy the day!
Here are a couple of errant tiny reindeer looking a bit puzzled as to how they ended up outside my home. I think they got away from that incessantly flying sleigh...
And, finally, a bright red cardinal on a painted wall pocket I found last year at Goodwill for a song (I use it for displaying seasonal greens outside the door). I find it provides a cheerful crimson contrast to all this white stuff on the ground. And speaking of birdies, I did, in fact, refill the actual feeder just outside my window to the brim with oiled black sunflower seeds and a pair of peanut suet cakes last night. Now my lovely, fine-feathered cardinal (and chickadee and finch) friends will be pleased to find their favorite tasty Christmas meal awaiting them this morning. It's the least I can do for them.
And, for those of you in need of a fine chuckle after these endless weeks of holiday shopping, food prep, and just general anticipatory anxiety, I direct your attention to the wonderful blog, The Blushing Hostess Entertains, for Catherine Coughlin's very amusing take on entertaining that transient Santa person...
Merry Christmas to all!
